Bumble Bee Moves To Historical Building

Bumble Bee Foods offices will take up a new location from March 2014 in the formerly Showley Brothers Candy Factory in San Diego. The US tuna brand plans to move 140 employees into the building following scheduled upgrades of USD 2.5 million.

The 2,600 square meter building is located in Petco Park and is one of three historic structures incorporated into the ballpark’s design.

Chris Lischewski, Chief Executive of Bumble Bee said: “There’s no electricity, no plumbing and no air conditioning. We’re starting with an empty shell.”

Bumble Bee has signed a 12 year lease on the building that was built in 1924, and moved 280 feet in 2003 to accommodate for the construction of a new baseball stadium. The former factory had been vacant for about ten years before it was moved.

The lease was signed four months ago, but Bumble Bee was awaiting state approval of plans to rezone the first floor of the structure to office use. This has now been granted.

Bumble Bee plans to stamp its mark on the three-story building with a modern interior, urban design and open setting. This will be a change for employees who are currently housed in a nine-story modern tower in Kearny Mesa.

Lischewski also outlined the company’s plans to open a coffee shop and retail store in the adjacent Diamond View Tower, which is expected to gain movement in around one month.